University's alcohol policy unfair for 21-and-over students
Dan McCarthy
Issue date: 10/23/09 Section: Opinion
Why do Residence Life policies punish students of legal drinking age for drinking legally with other 21-year-olds?
Imagine this scenario. Four students live in a townhouse. All are 21 save one, who turns 21 in a week. The three of legal drinking age enjoy a few beers in their living room with other 21-year-old friends. The underage student has left the apartment.
Should those three students be charged with providing alcohol to a minor if that minor, although a resident of the apartment, is not even present?
According to the Office of Residence Life, they should.
When did drinking with other 21-year-olds, and only other 21-year-olds, become a crime? The university's alcohol policy states no 21-year-old may possess alcohol if another occupant of that room is under 21. In that scenario, were any occupants of the living room younger than 21? Occupants differ from residents.
The policy states 21-year-olds may drink alcohol only with other 21-year-olds. Shouldn't townhouse residents be applauded for drinking with fellow 21-year-olds and only doing it when their under-age roommate leaves?
The issue has less to do with who possesses alcohol and more with who actually drinks it. If the rest of the world operated on this philosophy, every parent with a bottle of wine in the house would be in jail for supplying to minors.
Residence Life must examine its policies to determine fairness. The current system only results in wasted time and anger.
Imagine this scenario. Four students live in a townhouse. All are 21 save one, who turns 21 in a week. The three of legal drinking age enjoy a few beers in their living room with other 21-year-old friends. The underage student has left the apartment.
Should those three students be charged with providing alcohol to a minor if that minor, although a resident of the apartment, is not even present?
According to the Office of Residence Life, they should.
When did drinking with other 21-year-olds, and only other 21-year-olds, become a crime? The university's alcohol policy states no 21-year-old may possess alcohol if another occupant of that room is under 21. In that scenario, were any occupants of the living room younger than 21? Occupants differ from residents.
The policy states 21-year-olds may drink alcohol only with other 21-year-olds. Shouldn't townhouse residents be applauded for drinking with fellow 21-year-olds and only doing it when their under-age roommate leaves?
The issue has less to do with who possesses alcohol and more with who actually drinks it. If the rest of the world operated on this philosophy, every parent with a bottle of wine in the house would be in jail for supplying to minors.
Residence Life must examine its policies to determine fairness. The current system only results in wasted time and anger.
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